If what you say is true, there are no changes, radical or otherwise, that OTA radio can make that will turn it magically into a phone. For multiple reasons, some dealing with federal law, some dealing with physics, and some dealing with business, there is no way that a radio station can somehow become Pandora. Or vice versa. They are two things for different purposes. My studies tell me there are some 14 year old boys who listen to OTA radio. But I also know that OTA radio isn't aiming at 14 year old boys, and what I know is that boys are less likely to ever want to hear the kind of music that's played on OTA radio. So yes, I know the studies and I know that families that can afford Sirius and other subscription services likely have no interest in free OTA radio. But I also know there are millions of other people who want and enjoy what's on traditional radio. Those are the people we program to.
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KROQ'S Bean To Leave
- Thread starter TheBigA
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If what you say is true, there are no changes, radical or otherwise, that OTA radio can make that will turn it magically into a phone. For multiple reasons, some dealing with federal law, some dealing with physics, and some dealing with business, there is no way that a radio station can somehow become Pandora. Or vice versa. They are two things for different purposes. My studies tell me there are some 14 year old boys who listen to OTA radio. But I also know that OTA radio isn't aiming at 14 year old boys, and what I know is that boys are less likely to ever want to hear the kind of music that's played on OTA radio. So yes, I know the studies and I know that families that can afford Sirius and other subscription services likely have no interest in free OTA radio. But I also know there are millions of other people who want and enjoy what's on traditional radio. Those are the people we program to.
I agree millions of people listen to terrestrial radio. Today. Not only does my 14 year old not listen to it neither does my 29 year old college daughter and 31 year old veteran and college graduate. They are who you program to. And you missed the point with the 14 year old. You may not program to him TODAY but he will be in the 18-30 age range soon and if you do not make terrestrial radio something he would be interested in why would you think he will listen to it when he IS in the target age range? There is no brand loyalty there. I work in an office with 100+ people and no one listens to terrestrial radio. Everyone is plugged into their phone streaming. Ages range from 20 to 65. I will grant you some of them are listening to streaming morning shows from local stations but they are the minority and are of the older generation. But most are listening to Howard Stern on SiriusXM. Also a reminder not all streaming services are expensive and some have free services, although with limited commercials, not the 3-4 minutes of car sales commercials yelling at you through the speakers.
Every day I read stories like this. "nobody I know listens to terrestrial radio." Then one day a station like The Sound gets sold and changes format, and all of a sudden we see that lots of people listen. Nobody listens until it goes away, and then the truth comes out.
The problem with the "everybody I know" point is you don't know 7 million people. Are they statistically representative? No. There are millions of people you don't know, whose music taste you don't share, and whose lifestyle you'll never experience. I know that's a hard thing to conceive, but it's true. I'll give you something else. Just a few weeks ago, the copyright court ruled a 44% increase in royalties for songwriters. That increase is being appealed by streaming companies. But when it takes effect, you'll see a 44% increase in costs. That will mean more commercials on the free services, and an increase in subscription rates for all digital services including Sirius.
Does that mean people will come back to terrestrial radio? Probably not. As I said, my interest is with the people who do listen, not your friends and family who don't.
The problem with the "everybody I know" point is you don't know 7 million people. Are they statistically representative? No. There are millions of people you don't know, whose music taste you don't share, and whose lifestyle you'll never experience. I know that's a hard thing to conceive, but it's true. I'll give you something else. Just a few weeks ago, the copyright court ruled a 44% increase in royalties for songwriters. That increase is being appealed by streaming companies. But when it takes effect, you'll see a 44% increase in costs. That will mean more commercials on the free services, and an increase in subscription rates for all digital services including Sirius.
Does that mean people will come back to terrestrial radio? Probably not. As I said, my interest is with the people who do listen, not your friends and family who don't.
That is right. I have 3 SiriusXM subscriptions (one for each car, one for home) and the price is very fair. I always like to diagram with a greater than or less than sign:
Price paid for satellite radio < aggravation of lots of commercials, mind-numbing limited playlists and incessant irrelevant small talk inherent in local over the air radio.
They could double the price of the satellite radio and the equation would still be true.
What you don't understand is that although the Sound (as good as it was, by terrestrial radio standards) was a listening choice, but it was the LAST listening choice - what I turned to when stuck with no other choice but AM/FM radio, like when I occasionally have to drive my mother-in-law's car. Now when I drive her car, i just do like the young'ns and just plug my phone in as well.
That's OK. There was a reason why that station was expendable to its owner. This is a thread about KROQ. Their weekly cume is 1.5 million people. That's a lot of people, and I'm sure some of them will say (when asked) that they never listen to the radio. And yet they do.
This could be a golden opportunity for alt 98.7. They might overtake kroq in the mornings especially after bean leaves. I doubt kroq will replace bean. Time will tell...
Exactly. I had The Sounds app in my phone because I am outside any LA radio range (another terrestrial disadvange). I did stream it sometimes but I found it was essentially a mash up of SiriusXM's Classic Rewind/Classic Vinyl/Classic Rewind. Without commercials and not limited by distance and topography. SiriusXM just added 100 new streaming channels to go along with the regular satellite channels. There is no area in the country where I can get over 200 stations all the time at my fingertips on terrestrial radio. But I do understand terrestrial radio does work for alot of people. I remember cable TV was a big thing too back in the day and now cord cutters are everywhere. Why? Because content can be streamed online via smart TV's and mobile devices. No need for cable except for internet access. Then that goes away with 5G.
Times change. Companies that don't adapt fall by the wayside.
Finally the issue of cost of streaming content keeps coming up. Do you know terrestrial radio isn't free either? Listening to commercials and DJ's that think they are funny are wasting my TIME. Time is money as you well know. I prefer to pay out of pocket.
Times change. Companies that don't adapt fall by the wayside.
Finally the issue of cost of streaming content keeps coming up. Do you know terrestrial radio isn't free either? Listening to commercials and DJ's that think they are funny are wasting my TIME. Time is money as you well know. I prefer to pay out of pocket.
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Which is why terrestrial stations offer streaming, HD channels, podcasts, and lots of other options. KCSN, KCRW and KPPC are also OTA stations, and they have no commercials or funny DJs. Radio is not just one thing.
The one advantage terrestrial radio has over the other options is the concept of being local. Radio (especially morning shows) used to provide a local community focal point...a place to listen, share thoughts on all things local (weather, sports, politics, traffic, major local events etc.). Heck, there was even local music. With all the consolidation in the industry (and associated cost-cutting), this vital element to radio has been swept aside. Not a surprise when most radio stations have no local feel, are essentially interchangeable across markets, that the younger demos opt for Spotify. Radio is now a mirror image of Spotify, albeit with crappier playlists and commercials.
Have you been reading this thread? We're talking about a local radio station that is part of a consolidated group that has all local staff. What you're talking about hasn't been swept aside at all. In fact most of the stations in LA have all local staff. Having local staff isn't the draw it once was. Even though there are lots of live & local staffs, the younger demos seek out national music streams with no hosts at all from Pandora and Spotify. Boomers think the kids want what they want, and we know it's not true.
Boy Howdy!
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